Turkiye Blocks NATO Cooperation with Israel Over Gaza Conflict
Turkiye has put a halt to cooperation between NATO and Israel since October due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, according to sources familiar with the matter. The country believes that NATO should not engage with Israel as a partner until there is an end to the conflict. Israel has been a NATO partner and has maintained close relations with the military alliance and some of its members, particularly the United States.
Turkiye had been working to improve its strained ties with Israel before the offensive in Gaza, which was prompted by Hamas’ rampage on October 7. However, Ankara has strongly criticized Israel’s operation in Gaza, referring to it as a genocide, and has suspended all bilateral trade. It has also condemned several Western allies for their support of Israel.
Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Turkiye has vetoed all NATO engagement with Israel since October, including joint meetings and exercises. The country views Israel’s actions in Gaza as a violation of NATO’s founding principles and considers it a massacre of Palestinians. A UN inquiry conducted in June found that both Israel and Hamas had committed war crimes in the early stages of the Gaza war. The report stated that Israel’s actions amounted to crimes against humanity due to the significant civilian losses. However, Israel rejects these claims and asserts that its operation in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, aims to eradicate Hamas.
Turkiye intends to maintain its block on NATO-Israel interaction and will not allow Israel to continue or advance its engagement with the alliance until there is a resolution to the conflict. The country believes that Israel’s actions in Gaza violate international law and universal human rights.
Following a NATO summit in Washington in July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that it was not feasible for NATO to continue its partnership with the Israeli administration. This statement came after Israel’s foreign minister urged the alliance to expel Turkiye, following Erdogan’s apparent threat to enter Israel, similar to its involvement in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh in the past.
Erdogan has condemned the “perfidious assassination” of his close ally and “brother” Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, in Tehran. He took to social media to express his condolences and denounce what he referred to as “Zionist barbarity.” Thousands of protesters in Istanbul also marched to condemn the killing, waving Turkish and Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans.
The conflict in Gaza has sparked international outrage, with many calling for an immediate end to the violence. Turkiye’s decision to block NATO cooperation with Israel reflects its strong stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The country believes that Israel’s actions are not in line with NATO’s principles and that engaging with Israel as a partner would be contradictory to the alliance’s values.
As the conflict continues, it remains to be seen how the situation will evolve and whether there will be any resolution in the near future. The international community, including NATO, will play a crucial role in finding a peaceful solution and ensuring the protection of human rights in the region.